Young Vietnamese donors cut their hair to support cancer patients

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For many young people in Gia Lai Province, cutting their long hair is more than a personal change in appearance, it is a gesture of solidarity with cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Trần Thị Kiều Linh, a sixth-grade student at Bùi Thị Xuân Primary and Secondary School, has joined volunteer activities with her father since primary school, including distributing meals and gifts to disadvantaged patients.

Exposure to patients facing serious illnesses helped Linh understand the importance of compassion and community support at an early age.

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Trần Thị Kiều Linh has donated her hair twice to the Gia Lai Pink Hair Club, hoping to inspire cancer patients. Photo: Đ.L

After learning about a hair donation campaign for cancer patients on social media, Linh decided to contribute her own hair. On April 30, 2024, she donated around 70 centimetres of hair to the Gia Lai Pink Hair Club. In April 2026, she donated another 40 centimetres.

“I hope my hair can help encourage cancer patients undergoing treatment. After my first donation, I also encouraged my older sister and classmates to join in”, Linh said.

La Thị Nà, from Ia Dom Commune, said her own experience recovering from a traffic accident helped her understand the emotional strain many patients endure.

“I decided to donate 30 centimetres of my long hair in July 2025. If this can help someone feel more confident, I think it’s truly meaningful”, Nà said.

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Lieutenant Hà Thị Thúy Hằng participates in hair donation to spread love and encourage cancer patients to overcome illness. Photo: Provided by subject

The campaign has also attracted support from local officials, youth union members and young volunteers.

Lieutenant Hà Thị Thúy Hằng, Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union of Pleiku Ward Police, has donated her hair twice, in December 2023 and March 2026.

Despite her work commitments, Hằng regularly participates in community welfare and volunteer activities.

“Helping others is also a way to make life more meaningful. I hope young people will boldly take part in meaningful community activities, even if it’s just a small act”, she said.

According to Trần Vũ, Deputy Head of the Gia Lai Pink Hair Club, the organisation received around 90 kilograms of donated hair between mid-August 2025 and early April 2026.

Thousands of packages containing donated hair have been sent to the club, many accompanied by messages from donors who had spent years growing their hair before cutting it for charity.

“What moves us most is that more and more young people are proactively participating and spreading this meaningful activity throughout the community”, Vũ said.

The donated hair is processed into wigs by the club and provided free of charge to cancer patients. On May 12 alone, the organisation delivered 50 wigs to patients at Da Nang Oncology Hospital.

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